Vicara, aka: Vicāra; 17 Definition(s)

Introduction

Vicara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Vichara.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Vicāra (विचार, “progress”) refers to one of the thirty-six “characteristic features” (lakṣaṇa) of perfect ‘poetic compositions’ (kāvyabandha) and ‘dramatic compositions’ (dṛśyakāvya, or simply kāvya). According to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 17, these thirty-six lakṣaṇas act as instructions for composing playwrights. The term is used throughout nāṭyaśāstra literature.

(Source): Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Vicāra (विचार, “deliberation”).—One of the thirty-six lakṣaṇa, or “excellent points of a dramatic composition”;—Description of vicāra: That which establishes something not direcrty perceived and is in harmony with the meaning expressed earlier and includes much elimination of errors (apoha), is called Deliberation (vicāra).

(Source): archive.org: Natya Shastra

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

Purana

Vicāra (विचार).—The importance of good consultation and its success—the words of Viṣanga to Bhaṇḍa.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 21. 50-51.

(Source): Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Vicāra (विचार).—(or विचारणा (vicāraṇā)), examination, question or topic or subject for examination; cf. कुतः पुनरियं विचारणा (kutaḥ punariyaṃ vicāraṇā) l M.Bh. on P. I. 1.50 Vart. 1.

(Source): Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

context information

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Evaluation; sustained thought. In meditation, vicara is the mental factor that allows ones attention to shift and move about in relation to the chosen meditation object. Vicara and its companion factor vitakka reach full maturity upon the development of the first level of jhana.(Source): Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms

M Fact to reflect upon (something), to consider, to deem.

(Source): Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

One of the Pakinnaka cetasikas. Vicara is also a mental factor. It works together with vitakka most of the time. While vitakka applies to the object, vicara helps citta not to depart from the object so that citta is sustained to be in the object. Vicara reviews the object. Vicara is sustained application.

(Source): Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

1. sustained thought; sustained thinking; sustained application; discursive thinking;

2. We read in the Visuddhimagga (IV,88) the following definition:

... Sustained thinking (vicarana) is sustained thought (vicara); continued sustenance (anusancarana), is what is meant. It has the characteristic of continued pressure on (occupation with) the object. Its function is to keep conascent (mental) states (occupied) with that. It is manifested as keeping consciousness anchored (on that object).

Vitakka directs the citta to the object and vicara keeps the citta occupied with the object, "anchored" on it. However, we should remember that both vitakka and vicara perform their functions only for the duration of one citta and then fall away immediately, together with the citta.

(Source): Dhamma Study: Cetasikas

'discursive thinking'; s. vitakka-vicāra.

(Source): Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Vicāra (विचार, “judgment”) refers to one of the five characteristics of the first dhyāna according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVIII).—“are vitarka and vicāra one and the same thing or are they two different things? Answer.—They are two different things. Vitarka is the first moment of a coarse mind, vicāra is a more subtle (sūkṣma) analysis. Thus, when a bell is struck, the first sound is strong, the subsequent sound is weaker; this is vicāra”.

Also, “although the two things reside in the same mind, their characteristics re not simultaneous: at the moment of vitarka, the vicāra is blurred (apaṭu); at the moment of vicāra, the vitarka is blurred. Thus, when the sun rises, the shadows disappear. All the minds (citta) and all the mental events receive their name prorata with time: [vitarka and vicāra are distinct names of one single mind]”.

(Source): Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Vicāra (विचार, “reflection”) refers to one of the fourty “conditions” (saṃskāra) that are “associated with mind” (citta-samprayukta) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 30). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (eg., vicāra). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Vicāra also refers to one of the “twenty-four minor defilements” (upakleśa) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 69).

(Source): Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Vīcāra (वीचार).—What is meant by ‘shifting’ (vīcāra)? Shifting is with regards to objects (artha), words (vyanjana) and activities (yoga).

(Source): Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 9: Influx of karmas

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

vicāra : (m.) investigation; management; planning.

(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

Vicāra, (vi+cāra) investigation, examination, consideration, deliberation.—Def^d as “vicaraṇaṃ vicāro, anusañcaraṇan ti vuttaṃ hoti” Vism. 142 (see in def. under vitakka).—Hardly ever by itself (as at Th. 1, 1117 mano°), usually in close connection or direct combⁿ with vitakka (q. v.). (Page 615)

(Source): Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

vicāra (विचार).—m (S) The exercise of judgment or reason; consideration, investigation, studious contemplation or deliberation. 2 The result or product of consideration; determination or decision; judgment or opinion formed. 3 Regard or notice; consideration of or attention to as of importance. Ex. lagnāmadhyēṃ sōṃvaḷyā ōṃvaḷyācā vi0 rāhata nāhīṃ. 4 Perplexity or trouble; a difficult and disquieting case, or the disturbance and embarrassment occasioned by it. Numerous useful compounds are current; and numerous others may be formed. As none will be found in the columns, let the class and the rule and force of it be studied here:--sārāsāravicāra Estimation or weighing (of an article or an affair or a matter) through consideration of its qualities good and bad; contemplation of pros and contras; sadasadvicāra Consideration of the good and bad, or of the Right and wrong; kāryākāryavicāra Pondering upon the arguments for and against an act contemplated: also consideration of things right or to be done, and of things wrong or not to be done; iṣṭāniṣṭavi0, karmākarmavi0 or karttavyākarttavyavi0, kāryakāraṇavi0, gamanāgamanavi0, grāhyāgrāhyavi0, dharmā- dharmavi0, pātrāpātravi0, pāpapuṇyavi0, bhakṣyābhakṣyavi0, yōgyāyōgyavi0, varjyāvarjyavi0, vācyāvācyavi0, vidhi- niṣēdhavi0, vihitāvihitavi0, śubhāśubhavi0, sādhva- sādhuvi0, saṅgāsaṅgavi0. vicāra jāgaviṇēṃ See the commoner phrase vivēka jāgaviṇēṃ. vicārānta paḍaṇēṃ To fall into deep consideration or thought.

(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vicāra (विचार).—m Consideration. Decision, judg- ment or opinion. Regard, attention to as of importance. Ex. lagnāmadhyēṃ sōṃvaḷyā ōṃvaḷyācā vicāra rahāta nāhīṃ. Perplexity or trouble, a disquieting case. Ex. aśā prasaṅgīṃ kāya karāvēṃ hā mōṭhā vicāra yēūna paḍalā āhē. kāryakārya vicāra Pondering upon the arguments for and against as act contemplated. sadasadvicāra Consideration of the right and wrong. sārāsāra vicāra Contemplation of pros and contras. vicārānta paḍaṇēṃ Fall into deep considera- tion or thought.

(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vicara (विचर).—a. Wandered, swerved from; न त्वं धर्मं विचरं सञ्जयेह मत्तश्च जानासि युधिष्ठिराच्च (na tvaṃ dharmaṃ vicaraṃ sañjayeha mattaśca jānāsi yudhiṣṭhirācca) Mb.5.29.4.

--- OR ---

Vicāra (विचार).—

1) Reflection, deliberation, thought, consideration; विचारमार्गप्रहितेन चक्षुषा (vicāramārgaprahitena cakṣuṣā) Ku.5.42.

2) Examination, discussion, investigation; तत्त्वार्थविचार (tattvārthavicāra).

3) Trial (of a case); विषसलिलतुलाग्निप्रार्थिते मे विचारे (viṣasalilatulāgniprārthite me vicāre) Mk.9.43.

4) Judgment, discrimination, discernment, exercise of reason; विचारमूढः प्रतिभासि मे त्वम् (vicāramūḍhaḥ pratibhāsi me tvam) R.2.47.

5) Decision, determination.

6) Selection.

7) Doubt, hesitation.

8) Prudence, circumspection.

Derivable forms: vicāraḥ (विचारः).

(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

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Cetasikas (by Nina van Gorkom)

Appendix 3 - Appendix To Chapter 8 < [Appendix And Glossary]

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Chapter 12 - Zeal < [Part II - The Particulars (pakinnaka)]

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Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)

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Chapter 4 - Cetasikas Associated With Both Good And Bad Cittas (mind)

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Food for the Heart (by Ajahn Chah)

Chapter 5 - Samma Samadhi

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Introduction to Dhammasangani (by U Ko Lay)

Material Sphere < [Division I - Cittuppada Kanda]

Division IV - Atthakatha Kanda < [Part II - The Dhammasangani]

Section One < [Division I - Cittuppada Kanda]

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Conditions (by Nina van Gorkom)

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